Tuesday, August 11, 2009

bg/ish: File This Under "Inexplicable"

Really? No, I mean, seriously?!?

So, let me get this straight. We currently live in an age of media where political correctness abounds, and a football player can be heavily criticized for calling himself a "fucking soldier" during a time of war. It's insensitive apparently.

"[Kellen] Winslow took heavy criticism for the rant since many critics felt it was disrespectful to actual soldiers who were serving on duty in the Iraq War, which had started several months before. On November 10, 2003, Winslow issued a written apology for his comments, writing that: "I meant no disrespect to the men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in the Armed Forces. I cannot begin to imagine the magnitude of war or its consequences."

Alright, alright. That's fine. Personally, that all seems a bit silly. But connotation is what it is. So, SFGate and Christie Kieth, please fucking forgive me for my mild annoyance at your liberal use of the words "DISCRIMINATION" and "COLOR BARRIER"...

Color barrier? Really? Is this a joke? I mean, I realize this article isn't about race or racial struggles, but, doesn't it trivialize it? Even slightly? Let's recap briefly. If a football player who calls himself a "fucking soldier" offends people who are sensitive to the plight of US troops in Iraq, then shouldn't referring to black dogs as facing a "color barrier" be considered even slightly offensive? Am I alone on this?

Ok, maybe I'm wrong, but then, why does this reader comment sound to me like the proverbial, "I've got 3 black friends and have even had one of them over my house for dinner!" schtick?...

And someone wouldn't dare make a case for dogs, based on their color, would they? Really?!?!

I'm sure I'm probably making a bigger deal out of this than I should. Call me crazy. I'm sure it's just a twisted case of coincidence that one of today's featured SFGate Staff Blog discusses this: